lifeaftr | July Intro: Upsy-Daisy!

July Intro: Upsy-Daisy!

INTRO LOG: JULY

Who: New arrivals, your lif᷆t̕i͗n᷅ģ f̧̞ͅr̡̦̃ḭ̅ͭe̩᷅̂n̟̣̤d̨̬̏, and you!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr, and everyone makes a new friend!
When: July 5th and onward
Where: All over Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Like a Bat Out of Hell
At this stage, the appearance of new arrivals to Ensō's shores is hardly a surprise to anyone but the arrivals themselves. Whatever mysterious force is responsible seems to have taken a vaguely nostalgic route this month, depositing the new and unconscious across the shoreline of the beach closest to the tumbled stone bastion of the Storyteller's temple. At first, that seems to be all there is to it. The arrivals stir to the smell of salt and the summer sea air, and the cycle of questions, searching, and settling begins.

For about five minutes. Perhaps ten.

Almost like an afterthought, something else shows up, plummeting straight out of the sky and landing with a veritable explosion of water some hundred feet from the shore. A large, rectangular shape breaches the surface after a few moments, bobbing, cork-like, in the foam-crested waves before ever so slowly beginning to sink into those aquamarine depths. For those familiar with such objects, it makes for a rather odd sight. That most certainly was an elevator, or you can be...fairly sure it was?

Give it another minute, and you'll be certain. The elevator streaks out from the ocean like a creature possessed. Maybe, in those split seconds prior to its approach, you'll be able to note the elevator's distinct features: a disturbingly smiling face on its doors, and a set of teeth framing a very organic mouth.

Meet Upsy, your lifting friend.

In case it wasn't obvious by now, Upsy is far from a conventional elevator by any standards. What's more, Upsy has not taken to LifeAftr as well as some others. Armed with the ability to move in any direction, the rogue contraption takes no prisoners - by which we mean, they take as many prisoners as possible. Upsy proceeds to swoop across the shoreline, combing the beach in the most haphazard and patternless path possible, scooping up anyone slow enough to be caught in their maw. Once you're caught up in their jaws, it comes down to the winds of fortune, in regards to wherever Upsy proceeds to spit out their cargo. While the journey itself will be rough and...sticky, it is not inherently dangerous.

Hopefully, the same can be said for wherever you end up Ensō hosts a great deal of predators, environmental hazards, and worse. Though you could always end up belched into the ocean. Hope you can swim!

When the Metal is Hot and the Engine is Hungry
Upsy’s reign of terror isn't restricted to mere adventurers. Those with livestock or animal companions may be in for a small shock or, perhaps more likely, a very large one, when flying elevator sucks up those cuddly critters with a grin and spirits them off into the great unknown.

Though your phoenix, chocobo, or tigerlily may not be where you saw them last, you can at least be assured that they are still on Ensō. All you need to do is round them up. And if this isn't good enough news, well...at least you don't keep bludrocs.

Whether you're out searching for an animal or not, be careful traversing Ensō for the next three days. If Upsy is empty, they'll most certainly snap you up. And if they aren't? You may find anything from birds to horses spat out at you.

The velocity of these organic projectiles tends to vary. Dramatically. Upsy's reign of terror will end on the evening of July 9th. At that point, the elevator will fly off to greener pastures...and our RNG spreadsheet for potential encounters in future. Sweet dreams.

All new arrivals will awake with knapsacks, their names stitched to the front. The contents of said knapsacks can all be found in your acceptance notices!

As a final note to those who participated in the Test Drive Meme, bear in mind that those threads, if all parties involved would like, can be game canon in the form of dream-like memories involving a place very much like this one, though the layout is considerably different.

Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the Locations Page, which has details regarding the starting areas and a handy map for those who feel better with a bird's eye view!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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[ The Knight, naturally, startles the already-frazzled princess. Even with the consuming thoughts of the ruins to calm her, nightfall has brought its own worries. A strange creature in a white mask appearing, unannounced, is one of them.

Zelda scrambles to her feet, fumbling for the multi-tool, for all the good it might do against - anything. ]

S-Stay back! [ She cries out, pointing the (admittedly tiny) blade at the Knight. ]

[ The Knight tilts their head and simply raises their hands, to show that they're not holding a weapon.

After a moment, they appear to be making gestures, though it might be a little hard to see, and they don't even know if this newcomer can understand them. But it's worth a try. ]

WILL-NOT-HURT

[ They repeat these movements several times, apparently for emphasis. They're....trying. It's hard to reassure someone you won't hurt them when you're lacking a voice to do it with. ]

[ She can barely see the little thing and certainly can't interpret its gestures with complete certainty... but Zelda seems to calm a little, watching the repeated motions. She swallows, shoulders falling a touch, though she doesn't yet stow her small weapon. ]

What... are you?

[ It doesn't look like any monster or creature of Hyrule, though she also can't see it as well as she might during the day. The princess leans forward, not taking her eyes off of the Knight, and withdraws a torch that had been resting within the fire.

Unfortunately, this only sheds literal light on the stranger and provides no additional clues... ]

[ Oh. She doesn't understand them. Well, they can work with that.

From beneath their cloak they take a small scrap of paper - they'd cut their blank map up a little while ago, so they could write things they could just show people on it.

It says, in neat if slightly wobbly handwriting: ]

I AM A TRAVELER

I AM FRIENDLY

[ It's like the equivalent of those HELLO I AM [BLANK] cards, if they'd known what such things were. ]

[ Well, that's more clear. Zelda blinks, nearly giggling in a mixture of nervousness and-... well, she's charmed by the display. As such, she relaxes a little, nodding to show that she understands. ]

I am also a traveler here. I won't hurt you. [ As if she could, really. The princess settles back into a seated position, replacing the torch into its resting place near the fire. ]

What is your name? [ She asks gently, now more curious than anxious. ]

[ The Knight nods back, pleased at Zelda's body language relaxing. It means they can approach her without scaring her, which will make further conversation easier.

As they come closer, it's clear that whatever their looks, their height certainly isn't the most intimidating thing about them. They're very small.

They draw their sword - it gleams in the firelight - and scratch busily in the ground.

no name

any name is fine

nice to meet you

what is yours ? ]

[ They are small, and she finds herself feeling increasingly curious about the Knight and what it might be.

Zelda stiffens again, seeing the sword, but relaxes when it begins to write. How curious. ]

You have no name? [ She'll have to decide on something appropriate to call the little swordsman later on. ] Mine is Zelda. It's very nice to meet you.

[ He seems to be able to understand her speech, which is good. It saves them having to both write out their conversation in the dirt. Interesting that he can listen, though, but not speak in return. ]

What is your race called? [ She asks next, brows raised in interest. ]

[ The Knight nods.

nice to meet you too

zelda = nice name

(They had always wondered about that - being granted the ability to listen, but not speak. Maybe it was just to receive instructions. They're not entirely sure. Their creator's lack of care was cruel, yes. But his motives remain somewhat of a mystery, and they hardly feel the need to ask.)

i am a vessel .

They pause, after a moment, and add:

made for a purpose

As if that clarifies much....But that seems to be all the information they think is relevant to this topic.

your race = ?

The nature of a being must be important to her. They wonder what her race is called - to them, categories are 'bug' and 'not a bug' and that's as far as they ever got. ]

[ There's a little giggle, a polite smile as he offers a compliment. ]

Thank you. [ But then: "a vessel, made for a purpose?" Curious. Who made this creature, and what was the purpose? ... Is it rude to ask? ]

Ah - Hylian. [ She nods affirmingly, though it isn't clear whether or not he'll know what this means. ] Are... you familiar with it? ... With us?

[ Not many people ask about what it means. They would likely be happy to answer, if Zelda wanted to ask.

But she hasn't asked yet, so they have no answers to offer in that regard.

'Hylian'. They tilt their head in clear thought, then answer with a little shake. No, they don't know what a Hylian is, though there are probably many of them, judging by her words.

do not know what hylian is

but

do not know what many people are

if not bugs

They are happy to admit their own ignorance as to the names of other races and species. They just don't think it's terribly important, unless the other person considers it so. ]

If not bugs? [ That makes her smile, but not condescendingly: rather, with wonder. She's never come across a creature like this one, after all, and is more curious than anything. ] Are there many bugs in your home?

[ There must be, she thinks, based on what he's said. Zelda tucks an errant strand of hair behind her ear and wishes, not for the first time, that she had some paper and a writing utensil to record all this.

If it is a dream that she forgets upon waking, she'll be saddened to lose the experience. ]

[ Another nod, another scrawl of writing.

all bugs

many shapes many sizes

They tilt their head in clear curiosity, looking up at Zelda; it seems this small wanderer is just as fascinated with her as she is with them.

your home = only hylians ?

or others ? ]

I would love to hear more about them! I know so little about entomology... [ She smiles, though, perking up. ] Hyrule has a lot of bugs, too, actually. I just haven't had as much time to study them as I would like.

[ Maybe one day, once her duty has been completed... ]

Oh, not at all. There are dozens of other races. Let's see... [ She begins to count on her fingers, gazing upward as she recounts: ] There are Hylians, of course, but there are also Zora, Rito, Gorons, Koroks, Gerudo, and Sheikah. There are fairies, too, and dozens and dozens of animals.

[ And bugs, as she'd mentioned. ]

[ The strange names go past, and the Knight simply nods along, committing them to memory.

They scratch a few words in the dirt.

tell me about them ?

can take turns

will tell you about others i have seen too

They don't mind 'talking' this way, exchanging information. If she wants to know more about bugs, the Knight knows many bugs. And she seems to like studying, talking of things and people she knows, and that is familiar. ]

[ Zelda wonders if the little Knight will quickly run out of dirt in which to write, but... for now, she continues. ]

I would be happy to. [ She smiles politely, excited about the prospect of learning some of what he has to offer. ] If you can tell me a bit about your bugs, I can talk more of anything you like.

[ They'll find space to write. Or make space. Messages can be simply scuffed away to make a blank canvas once again; that is the advantage, writing in dirt. No space to run out of, really.

The Knight taps their blade thoughtfully against the ground, thinking about how to answer. Where should they begin?

many bugs live in groups
nest, hive, family

just as many travel alone
do not settle
wander very far
or guard places, have duties

some form 'kingdoms'
unite many bugs no matter what species
does not happen often
does not end well

do you also have kingdoms ?

That's a general overview of how they group, anyway... The Knight's seen a lot of different bugs in their time. ]

It does sound a lot like what I'm familiar with. We have kingdoms, yes, and within them are cities, towns, and villages. As you say, some people travel with or without others, but many stay put in their homes for most of their lives. [ There's a thoughtful pause. ] The different races often live... primarily apart, if only because that is how it has always been, but we certainly get along. There is mixing of all the peoples of Hyrule, and it is usually peaceful.

[ They may be different, but they often have common goals. What would their world be without all of the beings that made it unique? ]

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July Intro: Upsy-Daisy!

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